Synopsis: Angelo "Snaps" Provolone made his dying father a promise on his deathbed: he would leave the world of crime and become an honest businessman. Despite having no experience in making money in a legal fashion, Snaps sets about to keep his promise. He is faced with numerous problems: henchmen who know nothing but crime, the police who are convinced he is hatching a master plan, and Oscar, who has just got his daughter pregnant.

At the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1991 which went to Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone in his tribute to Douglas recalled the filming of the scene where he hits Stallone in the face. After a swing and miss, Stallone jokingly told Douglas to slap him hard. "Let me have your best", whereupon Douglas proceeded to beat Stallone silly. Stallone said "I learned the hard way: never spar with Spartacus".

Marisa Tomei plays the daughter of Ornella Muti in this film. Muti, born in 1955, is only nine years older than Tomei, born in 1964.

Starring as the title character Oscar, this is Jim Mulholland's feature debut, and his only film.

One night, after filming wrapped, a fire destroyed several sets, many of the actors' trailers (among them Tim Curry's), all of the costumes, and 21 valuable vintage cars. Production was halted for two weeks while they were remaking all of the costumes. A Universal security guard hired to guard the cars later admitted to setting the fire.